Primary battery.



G. B. HITE.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1906.

996,764. Patented July 4,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR A TTURNEY.

CHARLES E. HITE, OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Hrrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burlington, in the county of Burlington and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and useful Primary Battery, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invent-ion relates toimprovements in primary batteries.

My object is to provide an improved battery and means for increasing itslife and efliciency.

My invention comprises special means for conveniently rendering the sameactive or inactive as desired.

My invention comprises a mechanical means for the distribution of anelectrolyte tor a plurality of cells contained in one receptacle,whereby the electrolyte is automatically separated into various equalamounts as the distribution takes place, and means whereby theelectrolyte is removed from said cells when it is desired to put thebattery out of use.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line aa of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical cross section on line 6-?) of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectionaldetail on an enlarged scale of one of the axial supporting and bindingposts.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The battery receptacle is composed of the two box sections 5 and 6,which may be formed of iron coated with enamel or other acid resistingnon-conducting material. These box sections are hinged together at 7 andprovided with a disengageable, over the center, clamping device, as at8, of great efficiency, in order to maintain a liquid tight relationshipbetween the two sections. The flange 9 of one box section is channeledto receive a rubber gasket 10 to form a liquid tight joint between saidtwo box sections. The structure formed of box sections 5 and 6 isadapted to rotate about a centrally disposed axis in journaled boxes instandards 11. Standards 11 are provided with the supporting bases 12 andthe connecting handle 13 as a brace for the upper end of said standards,and for convenience in carrying the battery about. In one of the boxsections for example, box section 6, are provided a series ofelectro-negative plates 14, such for example as carbon, sealed in theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1906.

Patented July 4, 1911. Serial No. 330,774.

box around three edges and at equal dis tances. Each of said plates iscovered on one face only with a coating of insoluble non-conductingmaterial 15. These plates 14 with their coatings 15 divide the box 6into a number of compartments. A terminal carbon 16 is provided at oneend of the box which needs no coating 15 as described with respect tothe others. In each compartment formed by the said carbon plates areprovided the electro-positive plates or electrodes 17 such for example,as zinc. The zinc plates are electrically connected and physicallysupported by aluminum bolts or rods 28 to the adjoining carbon 11 whoseactive face is in an adjoining compartment. The terminal carbon 16 atone end of box 6 is secured to the axially supporting binding post 18.This binding post 18 has a flange 19 on the outer side of box 6 so thatthe Flange will be pressed tightly against the box 6 upon screwing upthe nut 20 against the carbon plate 16. This binding post then has ajournaled extension through the upright 11. and terminates in a threadfor receiving the usual thumb nut 21 for securing the wire connection. Asimilar post on the other side of the box is adapted to maintain in asimilar way the terminal zinc electrode 17. Each of the axial posts 18is also provided with the channel 22- extending longitudinally from theend projecting into box 6 to near its outer end where it connects with atransverse channel 23 passing through said post 18, thereby forming anair exit for the escape of gases from the battery receptacle. The boltsor rods and co6perating nuts supporting the various electrodes, arepreferably made of aluminum which is unaffected by the electrolyte, andthereby easily operate to replace any of the positive electrodes whenthe same need renewing. Springs 24 are provided on each box section forcooperation with the lug or projection 25 upon the upright 11 tomaintain the battery receptacle in either position as hereinafter described. In the compartments now formed and disposed, is poured asuitable electrolyte such for instance as chromic acid, nearly fillingthe box section 6 as indicated by the line 29. Suitable wires 26 beingconnected with the binding post the battery is ready for action.

When it is desired to stop the action of the battery the receptacleformed of the box sections 5 and 6 is inverted so that box 6 will assumethe uppermost position when the electrolyte will run into the boxsection 5 from the compartments formed by the carbon electrodes in boxsection 6, and the electrodes 14 and 17 are thereby entirely free fromcontact with said electrolyte. The spring clips 24: serve to maintainthe said box in said position until again manipulated. In returning thebattery back to the former position as shown in Fig. 3 the electrolyteis run by gravity into the various compartments or cells in equalamounts, thus automatically filling them from the one liq uid, and atthe same time preventing any electrical connection between the cellsthrough the liquid.

The advantage of using aluminum connections with the chromic acidelectrolyte, is that no salts form around the carbon and aluminumconnections, such as would result from the use of other metals,therefore there isalways insured a good contact, which is of eatimportance.

What I claim is 1. In a primary battery, the combination of a receptaclecomprising two communicating chambers of approximately equaldimenslo-ns, one of said chambers divided into compartments by plateelectrodes suitably coated on one side with an impervious material, saidreceptacle adapted to be inverted to cause a body of electrolyte to passfrom one chamber to the other, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A battery composed of two receptacles of approximately equaldimensions, one of which is divided into compartments by plateelectrodes suitably coated on one side with impervious material, the tworeceptacles having a gasket interposed between their contact rims toform a liquid tight joint.

3. A battery composed of two receptacles, one of which is divided intocompartments or cells by plate electrodes suitably coated on one sidewith impervious material, all such electrode-plates except one having azinc plate attached thereto by an aluminum connection.

4. A battery composed of two receptacles,

one of which is divided into compartments or cells by plate electrodes,the said two receptacles hinged on one side and provided with adisengageable clamp lock on the other side.

5. A battery composed of two receptacles, one of which is divided intocompartments by parallel electrode plate partitions and having axialterminals, one connected with the plus plate and the other with theminus plate of the battery, each axial terminal having an air passage tocommunicate with the interior and exterior of the battery.

6. A battery composed of two receptacles, one of which is divided intocompartments or cells by plate electrodes and provided with an airpassage for the escape of accumulating gases, communicating with theexterior when the battery is closed, said passage adapted to occupy thesame relative position with respect to the electrolyte when the batteryis in either the active or the inactive position.

CHARLES E. HITE. Witnesses:

EUGENE ZIEGLER, MAE HorMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

